It’s hard to believe six years of Seguin Today is getting started. This volume of our magazine we hope to bring even more stories from Guadalupe County to your fingertips.
Kicking it off this month, we have stories of love and passion.
First, you’ll visit Seguin ISD where a love for the game of baseball was at the forefront recently at the unveiling of new batting cages. Not only that, but the Seguin Squirrel Trail has added another resident to the community art project honoring the game.
After that story, you’ll step into a world of blue and white inside Polmedia Polish Pottery where imported, handcrafted pottery becomes art you can use. You’ll learn about the love for art that goes into each piece, and then we invite you to create some of your own art in this month’s coloring page.
Be sure to check that out, and all of this month’s stories - right here, in Seguin Today.
Lizz Daniels Creative Director
by Chris Austin
Photo
GENERAL MANAGER
Darren Dunn
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Lizz Daniels
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Nick Spence
WRITERS
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
Chris Austin
Lizz Daniels
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
Laurie Ann Heideke
Linda Duncan
OFFICE MANAGER
Priscilda Rodriguez
DETERMINATION & MEMORIES GRIT
Seguin ISD Honors a Love for the Game
The Seguin community recently came together at Matador Legends Ballpark to honor two Seguin diamond legends and unveil the newest art squirrel.
In November 2024, the Seguin ISD Board of Trustees approved the name of the new ballpark, chosen from a pool of community nominations. At that same meeting, they voted to independently name both the baseball and softball batting cages. The practice hitting areas were named the Chloe Belicek Softball Batting Cages and the Manuel Rodriguez Baseball Batting Cages. On January 21, 2026, Belicek and Rodriguez were memorialized with their names over the entrances to each cage.
Chloe Belicek was a Lady Matador all-district shortstop who tragically lost her life in a car accident in July 2024 before the start of her senior year at Seguin High School. Chloe’s teammates, coaches, friends, and family attended the dedication ceremony. Her mother, Chrissy Belicek, spoke about the honor bestowed upon her late daughter.
“Sometimes there are just no words. We were completely honored,” Chrissy Belicek said. “She was an amazing athlete, and for them to recognize that, I am deeply proud of her and her character. I know she’s watching over us. To hear that her name kept coming up was just incredible—simply incredible. To be her mom, I’m honored forever.”
Story & Photos by Chris Austin
Chrissy Belicek was asked what advice Chloe would give to the players using the batting cages that now bear her name.
“She kept a journal and she kept notes. She’s gonna say, ‘Don’t let that umpire call your count; adjust to your pitcher, adjust to what’s thrown at you.’ You gotta know how to recognize pitches. That’s what gives you the softball IQ to play the game and to compete.
“And I know that as they swing the bat, she’ll be smiling and saying, ‘Scoot up in the batter’s box, adjust.’ That’s the mentality that Chloe brought to the game. She was the foul-off queen, and I know that’s what I feel she’s gonna be saying when watching over those girls as they’re taking swings.”
Manuel Rodriguez, who passed away in 2024, coached youth in the Little League softball and baseball programs for more than 15 years. He also played for the SMI Steelers, the Seguin White Sox, and the Seguin Aztecs. He served in the U.S. Air Force and is a member of the Seguin High School Wall of Honor. Rodriguez’s family and friends attended the dedication of the baseball batting cage.
Seguin ISD Athletic Director Craig Dailey shared memories of Rodriguez at the Little League fields in Seguin.
“Manuel was a staple in the Seguin Little League community for as long as I can remember growing up,” Dailey said. “He helped many young girls and boys, including myself, achieve our dreams down at the Little League
complex.
“I have a lot of memories growing up of Manuel running around, chasing me and all of us little kids. So, I have a lot of personal connection to him.”
Just outside the ballpark, a new Seguin art squirrel greeted visitors.
“Grit on the Diamond” was unveiled to the gathered crowd. The squirrel was painted by the Popa family. Florin and Robyn Popa are architects who designed and helped manage the construction of the new Matador Legends Ballpark.
Robyn Popa said the painting of the squirrel was a family endeavor.
“This was a true family effort, believe it or not,” Popa said. “The squirrel graced our front entry for about seven months, and during all of our free time in random spurts on the weekends, we all pitched in and helped paint the squirrel. It wasn’t necessarily true artists, but it was a labor of love from all of us.”
Popa talked about the meaning behind the newly painted squirrel.
“It’s a real synergy of both baseball and softball ethos and mottoes. There are a lot of quotes integrated from iconic figures in both the baseball and softball world.”
The gathering at Matador Legends Ballpark represented more than just naming batting cages or unveiling public art. It embodied the spirit that makes Seguin a close-knit community where athletic excellence, dedication, and character are celebrated across generations.
For young athletes stepping into the Chloe Belicek Softball Batting Cages, each swing carries the spirit of a talented player whose passion for the game and commitment to improvement set an example that transcends her tragically shortened life. Her mother’s words about adjusting, recognizing pitches, and developing softball IQ will echo through those cages for years to come, inspiring Lady Matadors to honor Chloe’s memory through their own dedication.
Similarly, the Manuel Rodriguez Baseball Batting Cages stand as a testament to selfless service—both to country and community. Rodriguez’s 15-plus years coaching Little League players shaped countless young lives, including that of Seguin AD Craig Dailey, creating a legacy that will continue influencing Seguin baseball for generations.
The “Grit on the Diamond” art squirrel, painted by the Popa family, serves as a visual reminder that success in athletics—and in life—requires perseverance, teamwork, and community support. Together, the dedications transform Matador Legends Ballpark into more than a sports venue; they make it a living memorial to the enduring spirit of Seguin. •
A PASSION for POTTERY PASSION
Where clay is fired with love
Story & Photos by Lizz Daniels
Outside of Seguin, on the winding roads of Guadalupe County, a rare treasure lies tucked away in what was once a dance hall. Polmedia Polish Pottery imports and sells one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic stoneware from Poland.
Monika Papiez is the face of the company and manages the store and the social media side of the business. She’s also a collector and lover of the pottery she sells.
“We’ve been here for 20 years,” she said. “Before that, we were shipping orders from the Chicago area. We needed a bigger warehouse, and needed a bigger space, and Texas was one of the places where we liked the weather, so we settled here in Seguin, and we love it here. This is a family-run business. All of the family is involved. At this moment, we have about 25 employees, excluding the family, and it’s growing. Every year, we need more help because people learn about Polish pottery.”
Inside the shop, shelves are lined with everything from cookware to decorative items. Creamy white clay ties the pieces together, while splashes of cobalt blue create a visually familiar theme across all the pieces whether it is a mug or a yarn bowl. Beyond the storefront, in the back, a warehouse awaits shoppers with ceiling-high shelves filled with row upon row of pottery waiting to be explored.
The clay itself is part of what makes Polish pottery unique. Such pure white clay can be found in the Boleslawiec region of Poland.
“This is the natural clay color,” Papiez said. “When you think about ceramics, you think of that orange/ brown clay. This is white. We call it pottery because it is beautiful and colorful, but this is stoneware. It is meant to be used and abused. It is hard to chip or scratch or even break them. I’ve had instances where I’ve dropped a mug on my kitchen floor, which is tile, and it just bounced off the floor, and I caught it again in my hand. Nothing happened to it. Even our customers repeat these stories. And another thing is, it’s fired twice in
the kiln. Before they paint it, they fire the rock clay so it’s harder. They paint it, then cover it with glaze and then fire it again at very high temperatures so it solidifies like rock. So, the glaze is always shiny, and the colors never fade.
I have pieces in my personal collection from the 1960’s and the colors are the same. It’s amazing. Not only that, but when you’re cooking on it, nothing sticks to it. It cleans like it’s magical.”
Everything in the shop is handmade and hand decorated. From simple sponged-on designs to intricate (and even custom) hand-painted artwork, each step of the production process is completed with careful attention to detail.
“It’s really time-consuming to create even one piece,” Papiez said. “At each level of the process of producing one, every single time a person is touching it –– even making the form for a mug it requires something like five people to create it because one person is going to pour the form, then other person is going to pull the form for the handle, and then there’s another person who’s going to sit and put them together. Then another person cleans it, and then at the end, you have the painters, the artists, who decorate each single piece of pottery. So, an incredible amount of work goes into each piece.”
When a piece comes together, it becomes a usable piece of art that can either be part of a matching set or a standalone piece in an eclectic mishmash of patterns. Settings can be made from matching pieces, all painted in a similar color scheme and pattern, or they can work individually, as each piece still has the same striking white clay base, regardless of the artwork
painted on it.
When Papiez first started her collection, the peacock print was her favorite, but nowadays, the more patterns -- the better, with holidays becoming a competition to see who will get the prettiest place setting to enjoy for the day.
“One of the traditional patterns is the peacock eyes, which is based on peacock feathers,” she said. “All the old traditional patterns refer to the peacock, which means prosperity, and that’s why it was my pattern when I first started out. Now, I love more patterns, more flowers, more everything. That’s better for me right now.”
And with countless items within Polmedia Polish Pottery’s stock to choose from, both Papiez and shopgoers can spend hours wandering the aisles to find the perfect piece to add to, or even start, their collection. •
FEBRUARY
Featured Events
Bras for a Cause
Break out your favorite Moulin Rouge–inspired attire and get ready for a glamorous, fun-filled evening you won’t want to miss on Thursday, March 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Seguin Coliseum, located at 950 South Austin St. at the Seguin Events Complex. This event is the Bras for a Cause fundraiser, and all proceeds benefit the Guadalupe Regional Cancer Assistance Fund, providing critical support to local families. Tickets and tables are going fast and availability is limited, so organizers encourage everyone to secure theirs soon.
February 13
Food Connection Day
Texas Farm Bureau will host Food Connection Day on Friday, February 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Guadalupe County Farm Bureau office, located at 325 South State Highway 46. Local farmers will visit with the community about how food gets from the field to your fork, and hamburgers will be available for just $1 each.
February 28
Chili Cook Off
To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com
February 20
The Savannah Sipping Society
The Texas Theatre presents “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy filled with laughter and Southern charm. Opening Night is Thursday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m., with additional performances February 14, 20, and 21 at 7:30 p.m., and February 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. The production will be staged at The Stephen & Mary Birch Texas Theatre, 425 N. Austin St., Seguin. Tickets are available online at https://thetexas. ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200511473.
The Laubach Bowling Club will host a Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, February 28, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Laubach Bowling Club, located at 1986 Laubach Road in Seguin. Teams will compete in categories, including People’s Choice, Spiciest Chili, and Best Overall. Bowling will also be available during the event. The entry fee is $30 per team, with registration due by February 18. Proceeds benefit Laubach Hall repairs. For more information, contact Jodi Watts at (830) 822-0608 or the Laubach Bowling Club at (830) 3799033.
February 21
Singo Bingo Fundraiser
The Seguin Sunrise Lions Club will host a Singo Bingo Fundraiser on Friday, February 21, starting at 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Silver Center, located at 510 E. Court Street in Seguin. Tickets are $20 and include five rounds of Singo. Proceeds will benefit local charities and Lions Club service projects.
February 28
Taste of Soul
The Guadalupe County MLK Commission invites the community to attend the Annual Taste of Soul, a celebration of culture, community, and cuisine. The event will be held Saturday, February 28 at the Seguin Youth Services building, located at 919 N. Guadalupe St. in Seguin. Doors open at 11 a.m., and admission is $15. This annual gathering features a variety of soul food dishes and offers an opportunity for fellowship while honoring history and uplifting the future of the community. For more information, email guadalupecountymlkcommittee@gmail.com.
Marion Community Remembers Contributions of Dr. Tom DeKunder
Story by Darren Dunn Courtesy Photo
(Marion) — If there’s a project or job that was done in the Marion ISD over the last five decades, there’s a good chance Dr. Tom DeKunder played a part in it. Dr. DeKunder, a former superintendent of schools in Marion ISD, died recently at the age of 80.
Community members, friends, and co-workers are remembering the many contributions he made to the school district and to other parts of the community. He served in a number of roles in Marion ISD.
Former Superintendent Dennis Dreyer took over the district’s top job after DeKunder’s retirement. He says Dr. DeKunder made a difference in his life both personally and professionally.
“He was my social studies teacher. He was my basketball coach. He was my football coach, my track coach. And then I left, and he went into administration. When I got back here as a teacher, he started as an elementary principal. Then I became middle school principal, and we worked really closely together on all the transitions between those grades. I moved to the high school, and he moved into the assistant superintendent’s position. Then he moved to the superintendent’s position, and I moved into the assistant superintendent’s position. And finally, when he decided to retire, it was through his recommendation that I became superintendent. So again, I owe him for every one of those changes. He was very, very important,” said Dreyer.
Dreyer says DeKunder always had a vision for the district and its students. He says that even as superintendent, DeKunder often took time to work with students who needed the most support.
“He was always there, as an administrator, for the student. He would pick up some of the kids who were having trouble and were downtrodden. Whether they were disciplinary issues or family issues or whatever, he was always frontline involved and always went the extra mile to take care of all kids — but specifically those who were having personal problems, whether they were academic, learning disabilities, or family problems. He was there for them,” said Dreyer.\
Dreyer says he’s thankful for the many lessons he learned from DeKunder over the years — lessons that went well beyond the walls of the school.
“I just have nothing other than the highest praise for the man and for the vision that he had. I was always on the outside looking in and saying, ‘I never thought of that.’ And his footsteps were fun to follow,” said Dreyer.
Phil Karrer knew Dr. DeKunder for more than 50 years. He says he saw firsthand how much work DeKunder did for the community.
“He and I have just been really good friends. He was my coach and teacher his first couple of years here, and he hired me back in ’77. We’ve been friends ever since. I know he’s just been a great guy to know, and he’s been special to me and special to a lot of other people around here. He dedicated his life to this little town,” said Karrer.
Karrer says DeKunder’s dedication wasn’t limited to Marion ISD. He says DeKunder also knew the broader Marion community better than
most. Even though he didn’t grow up in Marion, Dr. DeKunder showed his love for the community every chance he got. He conducted historical research that eventually led to a book, and he worked hard to ensure lasting projects were completed — including the creation of the Community Library and the founding of the Marion Education Foundation. Karrer says DeKunder gave back to Marion in every way he could.
“Well, it was his love. Every little part of this town, he made sure he kept up with and knew what was going on. Like Veterans Park — he’s the one who kind of got it all going. And it has turned out to be a really nice little place,” said Karrer.
DeKunder was not a large man, but those who knew him say his presence loomed large over everything he touched.
“He was always trying to get involved in something, and he would get other people involved. He was just a go-getter. And when he finished one project, he had to find something else to pursue,” said Karrer.
In addition to his time in Marion ISD, DeKunder also served on the school board in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. He was also a longtime member of the Guadalupe County Historical Commission and took on a major project helping to identify dozens of long-forgotten cemeteries across the county.
Funeral services for Dr. DeKunder begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Schertz Funeral Home, located at 2217 FM 3009 in Schertz. •
Crisis Services is a 24/7 walk-in clinic for children and teens experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
Outpatient services offer diverse treatment interventions, such as individual, family, and group therapy.
Southside High School is home to a new Clarity location, allowing all students enrolled in a Southside ISD school access to mental healthcare.
continuous supervision.
First Step is a one-time consultation for families that know their child is struggling but aren't sure what help they need or where to get it.
Partial hospitalization provides intensive mental healthcare during the day and then works with families to practice skills in the evening. The Next Step Center connects families to services that support their child’s continued path to mental wellness.
Claritycon is an annual conference on children’s mental health. Attendees work in education, social work, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, etc.
